Open AccessNitrogen Management and Uptake by Corn on No‐Till and Ridge‐Till Claypan Soil
Author(s) -
Sweeney Daniel W.,
RuizDiaz Dorivar,
Jardine Douglas J.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
agrosystems, geosciences and environment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2639-6696
DOI - 10.2134/age2018.09.0034
Subject(s) - tillage , agronomy , no till farming , fertilizer , human fertilization , environmental science , growing season , nitrogen , ridge , soil water , biology , chemistry , soil fertility , soil science , paleontology , organic chemistry
Core Ideas Seasonal corn N uptake was greater with ridge‐till than with no‐till. Increasing N fertilizer rate generally increased N uptake. Nitrogen uptake at R4 was greater with banded applications than broadcast in no‐till. Increasing N uptake increased yield, primarily by increasing kernels per ear.Information on N management is limited regarding N uptake and recovery by corn ( Zea mays L.) grown on claypan soils in the eastern Great Plains, especially in conservation tillage systems. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of fertilizer N rate (0, 34, 67, 101, and 134 kg ha ‐1 ) applied by surface broadcast, surface band (dribble), and subsurface band (knife) placement methods on N uptake by corn grown in no‐till and ridge‐till systems on a claypan soil. Ridge‐till consistently increased corn N uptake compared with no‐till by 53% early to 20% later during the growing season. Maximum N uptake rate was earlier in the season and greater with ridge‐till than with no‐till, perhaps helping to contribute to increased corn yields. Early in the season, corn N uptake was increased with low N fertilization rates, but not at higher rates. However, as the season progressed, N uptake increased with all rates. Even though the effect of N fertilizer placement on corn N uptake was not consistent during the entire season, by the R4 growth stage, placement did not affect N uptake in ridge‐till but was nearly 20% greater with banded (dribble and knife) applications than with broadcasting in no‐till. At low N rates, knife placement increased N uptake at R4, likely because of improved apparent N recovery, but was unaffected by placement at greater N rates. Improving total N uptake increased relative yield primarily by increasing kernels per ear, with lesser effects due to kernel weight and ears per plant.